INJURY-hit Eastleigh have added a new name to their squad ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Bath.

The Spitfires have swooped for 28-year-old midfielder Ashley Nicholls from BS South rivals Bishop’s Stortford.

With Staforde Palmer, Jamie Brown and, now, Andy Forbes all lost to long-term injury, manager Ian Baird would ideally like to have signed a striker.

But he said: “I’ve made 30 or 40 calls, but at this stage of the season no one is letting people out.

“I’m still trying to see if we can do anything to get Jamie White back here from Southampton (following an earlier loan). If possible, I’d like to take him until the end of the season.”

Nicholls, though, looks a decent acquistion.

Born in Ipswich, he came through the Ipswich Town youth system and played briefly for Canvey Island on loan before joining Darlington in 2002.

He was a Darlington first-team regular for two seasons, scoring on his debut against Cambridge United, who he later joined during their Football League days.

Spells with Grays, Boston United and Maidenhead followed before he moved to Bishop’s Stortford last summer. Most recently he has spent a month’s loan with BS South leaders Newport.

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